Take a peek behind the scenes at the self-proclaimed "Bastion of Fundamentalism" and "Fortress of Faith," Bob Jones University. A Bob Jones University graduate takes a close look at the Joneses, Bob Jones University, and the national network of Bob Jones-styled fundamentalist churches and ministries staffed by Bob Jones University graduates and influenced by the pragmatic philosophies and principles taught and practiced by BJU.
Jonesianism, a term perhaps first coined in BJU Exposed, is simply modern-day Phariseeism. Jonesianism is essentially a combination of psuedo-religious legalism with endless man-made rules given Ten Commandment-status, religious hypocrisy, extreme sectarianism, religious pride, and pervasive intellectual, ecclesiastic, ethical corruption and dishonesty all ruled over by a few men who embodied the worst qualities of the original Pharisees and whose teachings and actions cannot be questioned.

May 02, 2008

Quote of the Day: "What a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive." D. Dafoe

Definition of the Day: "Bigot: One obstinately and irrationally, often intolerantly, devoted to his own church, party, belief, or opinion." (Webster's Third New International Dictionary)

One of the things that always amazes me about many of my fellow BJU alums, including current BJU president Stephen Jones, is the unqualified praise they heaped upon Bob Jones III for dropping the interracial dating/marriage ban on the Larry King Live show in 2000.

Another thing that amazes me is that even BJU grads who oppose the bigotry practiced and propagated by the Joneses/BJU, are quick to label as "bigots" those who point out the interracial dating Rule deception practiced by Bob Jones III.

I recently engaged a BJU grad on a forum. Although he was seemingly for the Petition to BJU to publicly apologize for the interracial dating bigotry, he accused me of "bigotry" for citing well-established facts, supporting Scripture, and logical, rational conclusions regarding Bob Jones III's interracial dating ban deception. He apparently thinks that to confront Bob Jones III's sin and heresy would undermine the Gospel. I asked him several pointed questions about Bob Jones III's LKL interview including these three:

"Are the Drs. Bob Jones, [Bob Sr., Jr., III] in your mind, suitable examples of "men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom" on par with men like Stephen in Acts 6?"

"Are you saying that the Bob Joneses [Bob Sr., Jr., III] meet your idea of those who have demonstrated competency, trustworthiness, judiciousness, wisdom, and submission to biblical authority on behalf of God's Word and [on behalf of] those who have followed their spiritual leadership?"

"Have you considered the scope and breadth of the damage Bob Jones III did to the Gospel and [to the credibility of] those who preach it from BJU with his Rule, his Supreme Court case, his public statements, and in his interview on LKL?"

He refused to answer the questions and accused me of "bigotry". Defensible views that are based on facts, sound logic, and scriptural rationale are not evidence of bigotry, else every Christian who believed in the authority of the Bible would be a bigot.

Yes, it is important to pressure the Joneses/BJU to apologize and make restitution to those they have wronged with their interracial dating ban nonsense. But, propagating unbiblical division within the Body of Christ by banning interracial marriage, and doing it deceitfully the way Bob Jones III has done, is sin. Thus, it is equally important that Bob Jones III publicly repent for his sin of bearing false witness just as other religious leaders have publicly repented for their breaches of the Ten Commandments.

Bob Jones III violated the trust the University family placed in him in saying the Bible taught that interracial marriage violated "Bible policy". I just talked to a BJU grad whose parents were both BJU faculty lifers. She said, 'If Bob Jones III was so adamantly wrong about the interracial marriage ban being "Bible policy," what else has he taught us that is wrong.'

Clearly, Bob Jones III violated and betrayed a sacred trust that an ordained minister of the Gospel - and educator - would not handle the Word of God deceitfully or craftily. We all make "mistakes". However mistaken, with Bob Jones III's continued dissembling on this issue, he reveals that his 'mistake' was deliberate and that he is bent upon dodging responsibility for his actions.

Bob Jones III has never begged forgiveness from the University family for deceiving us and abusing those within our number. And, Bob Jones III continued the deception by deliberately issuing false statements to the American people regarding the Rules. Again, any apology needs to include public repentance and a plea for forgiveness from Larry King and the American people.

When I watched Bob Jones III being interviewed by Larry King, I was appalled; much of what Bob Jones III was saying was simply untrue! When I pointed out this to other BJU grads, they simply dismissed the facts and started talking about how good it was that the ban had been dropped.

Not all BJU Grads are Bigots

But, not everyone who graduated from BJU is "obstinately and irrationally, often intolerantly, devoted" to the Joneses and Bob Jones University.

The authors of the Petition at Please Reconcile, Ignore, Defend, Forget, or Apologize? have done an excellent job of concisely exposing the deception Bob Jones III employed on LKL to deceive Larry King and the American people about the true nature and history of BJU's interracial dating and marriage ban.

In a post titled "We have never tried to do that," the Pleasereconcile authors quote Jones' response to Larry King's question about not being able to back up the interracial dating ban with a verse from the Bible. Bob Jones III responded to this question with a startling answer:

"No, we can't back it up with a verse from the Bible. We never have tried to, we have never tried to do that. But we have said there is a principle here, an overriding principle of the one world government. But let me tell you how insignificant this is. Students never hear it preached. There have been four, five, six generations of students that graduated from there have never heard this preached in our chapel or taught in our school..."

Bob Jones University's 1986 Race Relations Pamphlet

The post includes copies of an eight-page pamphlet published in 1986 by BJU Press titled "Race Relations" by Marshall Neal, Ph.D. of the School of Religion, Bob Jones University. The pamphlet cites specific passages of supporting Scripture on nearly every page.

Take a look at the Pleasereconcile blog. They have a very informative, narrowly focused website dedicated to motivating people - not just BJU graduates, I understand - to apply pressure to the Joneses/BJU to repent and to apologize to those they have wronged. They are doing a good thing. I pray that they may be successful in their efforts.